Wales

IPCC investigates police officers over Ian Watkins allegations

Six police officers - one from South Wales - are being investigated for gross misconduct, over the handling of allegations against Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets singer from Pontypridd jailed for child sex offences.

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The detective constable from South Wales Police who is being investigated for gross misconduct over the handling of allegations against Ian Watkins is the second officer from the force to face investigation from the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

We are making good progress with our three independent investigations and as result of our enquiries IPCC investigators have served notices on six further officers as part of the ongoing investigation – three from South Yorkshire Police, two from Bedfordshire Police and a second from South Wales Police. Arrangements are being made to interview the officers in the coming weeks.

We have now conducted two interviews with a detective sergeant from South Wales Police about his actions in relation to information about Ian Watkins. We anticipate he will be interviewed again in the near future.

We are continuing to gather and analyse information in all three investigations in order to establish what steps were taken by police in response to the allegations made against Ian Watkins, whether he could have been brought to justice sooner and whether his celebrity status had any impact on those investigations.

The police watchdog is investigating six more police officers for gross misconduct over the handling of allegations against Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets singer from Pontypridd, jailed for child sex offences.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says it has served gross misconduct notices on a police officer from South Wales Police, two officers from Bedfordshire Police and three from South Yorkshire Police, telling them their conduct is subject to investigation.

Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison for sex offences on children. Credit: South Wales Police

The South Wales Police detective constable was attached to the Child Protection Unit.

The IPCC says it has three investigations ongoing into the response of the three forces to allegations that Watkins was abusing children.

It is investigating the handling of three reports made to South Yorkshire Police between March and May 2012, which contained allegations about Watkins, with potential evidence.

It is also investigating how Bedfordshire Police handled information from a member of the public who reported an allegation of child abuse against Watkins in October 2012.